Pope Francis expressed concern about "the increasingly concrete threat of a world war" at a New Year's reception for foreign ambassadors to the Holy See on Thursday. The head of the Catholic Church called on diplomats to engage in dialogue,

Pope Francis on Thursday called for global dialogue with the view to preventing world war. This is as he expressed concern about the increasingly concrete threat of a world war at a New Year’s reception for foreign ambassadors.

Warning of “the increasingly concrete threat of a world war,” Pope Francis called for “the diplomacy of hope” in his address to the ambassadors of the 184 countries that have diplomatic relations with the Holy See.

The pope pointed to the assassination attempt against Donald Trump as an example of growing polarization and mistrust.